Crew Member Drowns On The Set Of The Lone Ranger

Gore Verbinskiís The Lone Ranger has endured multiple obstacles during its rocky production. They all pale in comparison to the latest tragedy.

TMZ reports that a crew member working on the set of The Lone Ranger has died while prepping a water tank, possibly cleaning it. After the initial reports of the death, officials have gone on record saying that the crew member might have suffered a heart attack while submerged underwater, and that they are treating the death as "natural." The movie was not shooting at the time of the incident, which took place on a Los Angeles set.

"We regretfully confirm that a Lone Ranger crew member has passed away after being taken to a local hospital," a Walt Disney spokesperson confirmed to TMZ, adding "our full support is behind the investigation into the circumstances of this terrible event."

Needless to say, in light of such unexpected tragedy, stories about budget problems and schedule delays on the set of Lone Ranger get swept off the table. Our condolences go out to the family of the crewmember who lost his life.

Verbinskiís The Lone Ranger will look to make sure the man didnít lose his life in vain. The film, which casts Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp as the masked sheriff and his sidekick Tonto, has been working toward a July 3, 2013 release date. There has been no word yet from the studio if these recent events will delay that opening, but weíll keep you posted on anything that we hear.